The Angels just finished another crazy and frustrating week, so to no one's surprise, the rankings have seen arguably the biggest shake up in history, not the least of which is a new player atop the rankings…

RANK

PLAYER

CHANGE

COMMENTS

1

+1
Last Week: 2

Albert Pujols – If he keeps showing this improved plate discipline, then maybe it is best that his plantar fasciitis never gets better, even if it hurts me to watch him so much as jog to first base after a walk.

2

-1
Last Week: 1

Mike Trout – Wait, now that I've dropped him down to the two-hole in the power rankings, just like Scioscia did in the batting order, does that mean I am "panicking" just like Scioscia too?

3

+11
Last Week: 14

Howie Kendrick – Howie Kendrick has been the team's most clutch hitter to date. GTFO.

4

+8
Last Week: 12

Ernesto Frieri – The problem with strict bullpen roles is that in a bullpen in dire need of talent, the best reliever ends up throwing the most infrequently. FREE FRIERI!

5

-1
Last Week: 4

Mark Trumbo – His plate discipline has improved greatly thus far, unfortunately it has come at the expense of his power and ability to hit with runners in scoring position.

6

-1
Last Week:5

Chris Iannetta – He finally didn't bat 8th! Yaaa- WAIT! (Checks horizon for a swarm of locusts) (Checks the sky for the arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) We're clear. Yaaaaaaay!

7

+8
Last Week: 15

Josh Hamilton – Well look who finally decided to join the party? Two weeks late, but I guess better late than never.

8

— 0
Last Week: 8

C.J. Wilson – At a certain point, I have to assume he uses the #throwstrikes hashtag strictly because he loves irony so much.

9

+7
Last Week: 16

Garrett Richards – Not the greatest start, but certainly good enough for the Angels to feel like they aren't going to need to pump Jered Weaver full of steroids to get him back as fast as humanly possible.

10

-1
Last Week: 9

Peter Bourjos – A lot of people wanted to see what Speedy Petey could do in the leadoff role. Well, you got your chance and so far not so good. I still like the idea of him leading off against southpaws though.

11

+6
Last Week: 17

Sean Burnett – I didn't think he was ready for it, but Burnett has stepped up big time in the last week to help the Halos weather the storm.

12

-5
Last Week: 7

Jason Vargas – SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ALERT! Thus far the "The Big A is just as much of a pitcher's park as Safeco" Theory has not held up.

13

+7
Last Week: 20

Scott Downs – His outings are a lot more harrowing than they used to be still, but at least the results are there, for now.

14

-4
Last Week: 13

Alberto Callaspo – With Aybar out and the Halos in desperate need of stability in the leadoff spot and on the left side of the infield, he goes and immediately gets hurt. Of course.

15

-4
Last Week: 11

Tommy Hanson – Can handle the Rangers, but can't handle the Astros? It is going to be quite some time before we have any real idea of what the Angels really have in Tommy Hanson.

16

— 0
Last Week: n/a

Luis Jimenez – The Lucho has been Libre'd! (And, yes, I realize how terrifying it is that he is already ranked this high.)

17

+4
Last Week: 21

Hank Conger – Not only does Hank struggle to throw to second base, he apparently struggles to slide into it as well.

18

— 0
Last Week: 18

Joe Blanton – Congratulations to the winner of our "Most Hated Angel" Poll! A richly deserved honor, I must say.

19

-13
Last Week: 6

Kevin Jepsen– You made me trust you, Kevin. You made me trust you! Never again, you son of a bitch. NEVER AGAIN.

Jerome Williams – At some point, Scioscia really just needs to give Williams a chance to see what he can do in non-mop-up situations. How much worse can he be than the alternatives?

22

-3
Last Week: 19

Mark Lowe – Ohhhh! So that's why the Dodgers released him during training camp.

23

+2
Last Week: 25

Andrew Romine – Romine got some playing time this week and didn't do much but he moves up in the rankings because he held the door for MWAH's own Job Ang at a local Panda Express a few days ago. Good manners go a long way around here.

24

— 0
Last Week: 24

J.B. Shuck– Let's be honest, had I told you that J.B. Shuck would get a start and bat leadoff for the Angels in April, you would've known that they were going to start the season 4-8.

25

-2
Last Week: 23

Brendan Harris – Any week that involves Brendan Harris making multiple starts is never a good week. But the real reason for his drop is that he got a new headshot and it isn't nearly as awkward as the old one.

About Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson is the founder and Supreme Overlord of Monkeywithahalo.com and editor at The Outside Corner. He's an Ivy League graduate, but not from one of the impressive ones. You shouldn't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he is angry.

After an unexpected week off, the Angels player power rankings are back. As you might expect, there was a lot of movement in the rankings thought the top spots remain locked in with no sign of changing anytime soon.

As always, the rankings are based on a player’s overall season performance with a weight on recent performance.

RANK

PLAYER

CHANGE

COMMENTS

1

— 0Last Week: 1

Jered Weaver – You just can’t beat Jered Weaver in April. It just isn’t done.

2

— 0Last Week: 2

Albert Pujols – He’s still the Angels best hitter, but I have to penalize for the home run drought. #2 he shall remain.

3

+5Last Week: 8

C.J. Wilson – Results have been pretty great so far for C.J., but he has had some control issues with 9 walks in 19 IP. Plus his command on throws to first leaves a lot to be desired.

4

-1Last Week: 3

Howie Kendrick – Explain to me why it would be wrong for Kendrick to hit behind Pujols with Hunter taking over the two-hole? You can’t, can you?

5

— 0Last Week: 5

Dan Haren – I think it is safe to say that his case of dead arm has been cured. Man was he filthy on Sunday.

6

+8Last Week: 14

Mark Trumbo – He’s been freed and even allowed to return to playing 3B while also getting playing time in the outfield too. What more can we ask for?

7

-1Last Week: 6

Erick Aybar – Apparently the best way to coax him out of his slump is to give him $35 million. I’m going start slacking off at work and then see if my employer will go for that same deal.

8

+3Last Week: 11

Chris Iannetta – Say what you want about small sample sizes, but is it too early to start asking if/when Iannetta is going to get his extension?

9

— 0Last Week: 9

Torii Hunter – Nobody is happier about Albert Pujols getting so much attention for being homerless right now than Torii Hunter.

10

— 0Last Week: 10

Scott Downs – The Angels haven’t had much luck this season, but Downs emerging from his getting his ankle stepped on with nothing more than a bruise shows that Lady Luck hasn’t totally forgotten about the Halos.

11

-7Last Week: 4

Kendrys Morales – He has snapped out of his slump and is delivering a bit of power too. However, it turns out that he is the slowest Angel since Bengie Molina, and it is a lot closer than you think.

12

+1Last Week: 13

Jordan Walden – He got a save!!!!! Too bad that save just served to remind us all that Walden is the leading cause of heart attacks amongst Angel fans.

13

+6Last Week: 19

Maicer Izturis – After barely playing the first week, Mighty Mouse has become almost an everyday player and part of the reason Trumbo isn’t playing everyday himself.

14

-7Last Week: 7

Peter Bourjos – He looks like he has no idea what he is doing at the plate right now, which makes it really hard to justify screaming at Scioscia when he benches Bourjos and plays Wells in CF. Oh, I still scream at Scioscia, it is just harder to justify doing so.

15

-3Last Week: 12

Ervin Santana – Ervin is on pace to allow 68 homers this season. Can’t imagine why he dropped in the rankings.

16

-1Last Week: 15

Vernon Wells – I really want to try and be on Vernon’s side and I do see that he is hitting more line drive while starting to use the opposite field, but I just can’t buy in until he stops swinging at every single pitch.

17

+1Last Week: 18

LaTroy Hawkins – I think the bullpen looks worse than it does because Hawkins hasn’t had much of a chance to pitch in setup situations. That’s what happens when the guys in front of him blow it first.

18

-1Last Week: 17

Alberto Callaspo – If he keeps hitting so poorly, Mike Scioscia won’t have much choice other than to re-commit to the Trumbo at third base experiment.

19

N/ALast Week: n/a

Jerome Williams – Awful first start, good second start. His third start better be a lot more like the second because Garrett Richards continues to carve up the Pacific Coast League.

20

+3Last Week: 23

Jason Isringhausen – It must be hard to mentor a young closer when said young closer almost never gets to close.

21

+1Last Week: 22

Bobby Wilson – You have to hand it to him, he has made the most out of very limited playing time. Turns out carrying him as a third catcher all that time was totally worth it.

22

-6Last Week: 16

Bobby Abreu – If you think we’ve heard the last of Abreu complaining, think again. He is on pace for 249 plate appearances this season, well shy of the 400 he was promised.

23

-3Last Week: 20

Hisanori Takahashi – Supposedly he is dealing with “arm discomfort” but that doesn’t excuse how terrible he has been this season. At least Scioscia is wising up and using him less.

24

N/ALast Week: n/a

David Carpenter – I can’t wait for the last man standing cage match between Carpenter and Cassevah to see who gets to be the Angels designated groundball guy out of the bullpen.

25

-1Last Week: 24

Kevin Jepsen – There is no scarier phrase in Angels baseball right now than “Kevin Jepsen begins warming up in the bullpen.”

About Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson is the founder and Supreme Overlord of Monkeywithahalo.com and editor at The Outside Corner. He's an Ivy League graduate, but not from one of the impressive ones. You shouldn't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he is angry.